Bricklink Designer Program Trains Sets | 2024 & Beyond

[Murdoch17]

On 5/12/2026 at 4:34 PM, L-Gauger said:

Might be worth mentioning here - based on the spotting features, the "Iconic American Prototype" of the Brick Railroad Locomotive is the F7A diesel-electric locomotive produced by the Electro-Motive Division (EMD for short) of General Motors (yes, the American car manufacturer.) The color scheme of the BDP model is based on the blue/yellow livery of the ATSF (AKA Santa Fe) Ry. The F7A and  F7B (the cab-less "booster" unit counterpart to the F7A) were built during the 1950s, and many served until the 1980s in the US and Canada (not sure if any were used in other countries.)

Just in case anyone was wondering. 

I thought most (99.9%) Santa Fe F-units were turned into the ugly home-built CF7 series by the '80s?  If that's the case, I wonder who is gonna make the first CF7 -inspired MOD of this set? 

[LL1982]

This one is attractive to get. It may be an US locomotive but the colours match up to local stuff. 

[CDM]

Here is a good look at the Santa Fe "Yellowbonnet" inspiration:

 

Edited May 14 by CDM

[L-Gauger]

5 hours ago, Murdoch17 said:

I thought most (99.9%) Santa Fe F-units were turned into the ugly home-built CF7 series by the '80s? 

I think that's correct, I was referring to the general lifespan of the F7 on American railroads. I think a few ATSF F7s might be preserved in their non-rebuilt condition, but I'm not 100% sure. 

 

4 hours ago, LL1982 said:

This one is attractive to get. It may be an US locomotive but the colours match up to local stuff. 

How cool! It also might be a good candidate to MOD into another cab unit (you might call them covered wagon) type diesel - I know there are some Australian diesels that are basically F7s with A1A trucks and a second cab on the back. 

1 hour ago, CDM said:

Here is a good look at the Santa Fe "Yellowbonnet" inspiration:

Thanks for this! That's a great photo. 

[CDM]

2 hours ago, L-Gauger said:

Thanks for this! That's a great photo. 

I should note it's not my photo but one I found online. It is great though!

[Murdoch17]

11 hours ago, L-Gauger said:

I think that's correct, I was referring to the general lifespan of the F7 on American railroads. I think a few ATSF F7s might be preserved in their non-rebuilt condition, but I'm not 100% sure. 

Just one is left from the Santa Fe. (It survives in runnable condition at the California State RR museum.) Any others you see are repaints from other railroads.